Plan to ban under-21s from buying off-sales alcohol

The age for buying alcohol from supermarkets and off-licences in Scotland could rise from 18 to 21, as the Scottish Government prepares to unveil the culmination of a year's work on combating the national "booze culture".

Although the Action on Alcohol proposals would make it illegal for anyone under-21 to buy alcohol to take away, 18-year-olds would continue to be served in pubs, bars and clubs.

But the Scottish Government has been warned it risks "demonising alcohol for young people" if it increases the takeaway age and raised concerns it would fuel "agency purchases", adults who buy drink for teenagers, often in exchange for money.

The government has also been urged to enforce existing law regarding the sale of alcohol to teenagers and the purchase of it by them.

The proposals, expected to be made public tomorrow, also include setting minimum prices for alcohol and banning three-for-two or buy-one-get-one-free deals.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has made no secret of his desire to take on the alcohol industry and radically reform Scotland's drinking culture since the SNP came to power last year.

Over the past 12 months his mantra has been that "nothing has been ruled in or ruled out" as far as proposals went.

Reports yesterday claimed tomorrow's announcement may also include details on an alcohol tax of 40p or 50p a unit, which would raise the price of some cheap ciders by as much as 400%, as well as the "polluter pays" scheme, where the licensed trade would face a levy which would go towards policing.

The proposal to raise the over-the-counter sales age comes after a pilot project in three towns, Armadale in West Lothian and Larbert and Stenhousemuir in Stirlingshire, that banned the sale of alcohol to under-21s in off-sales.

However Fiona Moriarty, the director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets as well as smaller retailers, said: "This is a mixed message, that it is OK to drink in pubs and clubs, but that it is not OK to buy something to drink responsibly in your own home."

But Paul Waterson, the chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, which represents hundreds of traditional bars and hotels, claimed that cheap alcohol in supermarkets was making the drink problem worse.

Mr Waterson said: "Over the last couple of years supermarkets have totally failed to respond to the obviously irresponsible promotions that they have within their stores.

"I think they have only got themselves to blame for that. There's a total lack of understanding that the prices they are charging, which means alcohol is often cheaper than water, is exacerbating the problem in Scotland."

James Alexander, the president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, said: "You could be married and have a family and have a five-year-old child under these proposals, and still not legally be able to go into an off-licence and buy alcohol."

Murdo Fraser, the Tory's deputy leader said: "The SNP are all over place on age limits - just three days ago they wanted to reduce the voting age to 16, whilst now they want to raise the off-licence purchase age to 21.

"It is ludicrous to suggest that Scotland's student population cannot purchase alcohol and it will do nothing to promote Scotland as a place to study."

Health Secretary and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon promised "radical proposals" to deal with the availability and the price of alcohol.

She said: "The government's not anti-alcohol. It is perfectly acceptable to enjoy alcohol responsibly, but we are concerned about alcohol misuse.

"It (alcohol misuse) has an impact on crime and anti-social behaviour and has taken a toll on our health."

Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said: "Although we are broadly in agreement with raising the minimum age of purchase in off-licences we would need to see the full details of the proposals."